Nantua (French pronunciation: [nɑ̃tɥa] ; Arpitan: Nantuat) is a commune in and subprefecture of the Ain département in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Eastern France. The commune of Nantua comprises the glacial Lac de Nantua.

Nantua
Nantuat (Arpitan)
A view of Nantua
A view of Nantua
Coat of arms of Nantua
Location of Nantua
Map
Nantua is located in France
Nantua
Nantua
Nantua is located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Nantua
Nantua
Coordinates: 46°09′07″N 5°36′28″E / 46.1519°N 5.6078°E / 46.1519; 5.6078
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentAin
ArrondissementNantua
CantonNantua
IntercommunalityHaut-Bugey Agglomération
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Pascal Thomasset[1] (DVD)
Area
1
12.79 km2 (4.94 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
3,449
 • Density270/km2 (700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
01269 /01130
Elevation479 m (1,572 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Lake Nantua dominates the town

Located in the Haut-Bugey historical region, among the southern foothills of the Jura Mountains, it is famous for its fresh-water fish and crayfish.[3]

History

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The town grew up around a Benedictine monastery founded in 671 by Amandus and the church of St Peter where the body of Charles the Bald was initially buried.

The priory of Nantua was sacked and burned in 1230 by Stephen I of Thoire-Villars.[4] Boniface of Savoy was selected prior in 1232.[4]

In 1944, a hundred men were arrested and deported and the local French Secret Army leader was shot dead by the Nazis in response to French resistance activities.[5]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 3,560—    
1975 3,440−0.49%
1982 3,572+0.54%
1990 3,602+0.10%
1999 3,902+0.89%
2009 3,639−0.70%
2014 3,534−0.58%
2020 3,453−0.39%
Source: INSEE[6]

Climate

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Nantua faces the small Lac de Nantua on its west side and is protected by high cliffs on its landward sides which gives rise to a relatively mild continental climate.

Twin towns — sister cities

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Nantua is twinned with:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Waverley Root, The Food of France, p. 215
  4. ^ a b Eugene L. Cox, The Eagles of Savoy, (Princeton University Press, 1974), 17-18.
  5. ^ Matthew Cobbs, The Resistance, p. 181
  6. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968 Archived 20 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine, INSEE
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